The Difference Method: A simple and effective on-board algorithm for space debris detection

Paper number

IAC-17,A6,1,5,x39614

Author

Mr. Lionel Métrailler, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Coauthor

Dr. Alessandro Vananti, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB), Switzerland

Coauthor

Prof. Thomas Schildknecht, Astronomical Institute University of Bern (AIUB) / SwissSpace Association, Switzerland

Coauthor

Mr. Jean-Noel Pittet, Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern / SwissSpace Association, Switzerland

Coauthor

Dr. Jens Utzmann, Airbus Defence and Space, Germany

Coauthor

Dr. Tim Flohrer, European Space Agency (ESA), Germany

Year

2017

Abstract

The Difference Method algorithm is developed within the European Space Agency (ESA) "Optical in-situ monitor" project by the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern together with Airbus Defense and Space. Main objectives are the autonomous on-board data reduction, preliminary image segmentation and object detection. These steps are critical and lead to an effective on-board processing pipeline optimizing the downlink bandwidth usage. Then, complementary analysis regarding astrometry, photometry and debris characterizations can be performed through the related on-ground processing chain. 
The baseline of the Difference Method is to process two successive exposures and detect moving objects (space debris) performing a refined frames subtraction. This method is composed of five main parts which are: star detection, frame alignment, frame subtraction, data selection and data compression. This algorithm shows very convincing results. It can process two frames and detect faint debris streaks, down to $SNR_{peak} = 2$ in less than 1 second of execution time, fulfilling rigorous requirements concerning on-board computation power, available data bandwidth and streaks detection limits.

Abstract document

IAC-17,A6,1,5,x39614.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,A6,1,5,x39614.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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